Massive Bitcoin Heist and Lavish Spending Spree: $230M BTC Heist
$230M Bitcoin Heist and Kidnapping: Details of a Major Crypto Crime
Two young men orchestrated a $230 million Bitcoin heist, marking one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts from a private individual in U.S. history. Following the theft, they indulged in luxury cars and a $2 million watch, but the story took a darker turn with a linked kidnapping case.
Massive Bitcoin Heist and Lavish Spending Spree
Malone Lam, 20, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, used sophisticated social engineering tactics to steal 4,100 Bitcoins from a Washington D.C. resident on August 18. They posed as personnel from Google and crypto exchange Gemini, convincing the victim to grant access to his Google Drive, which contained private keys to his cryptocurrency holdings.
After the heist, Lam and Serrano went on a spending spree, purchasing luxury cars, a $2 million watch, and racking up nightclub tabs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lam was arrested in Miami after flying in on a private jet, while Serrano was apprehended in Los Angeles with $20 million in stolen bitcoin on his phone.
Kidnapping Linked to Cryptocurrency Theft
Authorities believe the Bitcoin theft is connected to the August 25 kidnapping of a Connecticut couple. The couple was abducted while driving a rented Lamborghini, allegedly targeted because their son had access to significant amounts of digital currency. The suspects planned to demand payment in digital currency for the couple's safe return.
Six Florida men have been charged in connection with the kidnapping, though they have not been charged with the cryptocurrency theft. The FBI continues to investigate, with over $100 million of the stolen Bitcoin still unaccounted for.
Prosecutors have described this case as one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts from a private individual in U.S. history. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to recover the missing funds and bring all involved to justice.
